Thursday, 11 March 2010

EXCUSES

Our dear friend, trainer and mentor often quotes a famous sailor called Pete Goss. And the quote goes like this…

“Life hangs on a very thin thread. The cancer of time is complacency. If you’re going to do something, do it now because tomorrow is too late.” - Pete Goss

Wow! How many things do we constantly put off? A lot, right? And what are the reasons? Not enough time, not enough money, not enough patience, not enough of anything…

Excuses! Excuses!

Have you ever looked over the year just past and thought “Wow, I actually got quite a lot done…imagine how much more I could have done if I’d really put my mind to it!”

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our excuses…we forget what’s real. We almost forget what it is we were supposed to be doing in the first place! Or more importantly what we WANT to be doing!

So what is an excuse anyway?

excuseverb |ikˈskyoōz| [ trans. ]1 attempt to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offense); seek to defend or justify : he did nothing to hide or excuse Jacob's cruelty.

To lessen the blame? Why would we need to lessen the blame? To opt out of taking responsibility? That doesn’t sound like someone who’s in control of their life! That sounds more like the role of a victim.

Are you a victim to your excuses?

When you think about the things that you put off: what excuses come up for you? Why don’t you shock yourself right now and write down all the excuses you can possibly think of. Go on, jot them down. How many do you have?

Once you’ve completed your list, now write down the REAL reason why you put it off. The ‘adult taking responsibility for their actions’ reason. Maybe it’s just a case of you not making time for it yet. Not that there ISN’T enough time, just that you haven’t MADE the time or made it a priority yet? Maybe you were scared or failure? Or scared of success? Or maybe you just couldn’t be bothered? Whatever your reason is, it’s valid as long as it’s the truth.

Now install an action that you need to take in order to get that job done. And maybe a new positive belief that you need to do that job. Maybe it’s a belief about yourself and your capabilities? Or about what other people might think? Whatever it is, make it a positive encouraging belief that will help you move forward.

Excuses can hold you back from living the life of your dreams. Excuses can be your crutch, never allowing you to achieve your true desires. Excuses aren’t real reasons for not doing the things you want or are supposed to be doing.

If you’re going to do something, do it now…because tomorrow is too late.

How many of us have said things like “ Well when I get my promotion, I’ll be happy.” Or “Well when I get into shape I’ll feel more confident.” Or “When I get some spare time, I’ll get that job done.”

What is it that you are waiting for in order to get that thing done? And is that, (if you’re really honest with yourself) just an excuse to put it off?

If a Doctor told you that you only had 6 months to live…what would you do differently to what you’re doing now? How would you change your lifestyle to make your last 6 months the best 6 months of your life?

Maybe it wouldn’t be drastically different from now? Maybe just a few tweaks here and there? Maybe it would be COMPLETELY different? Take a moment to work out what is important to you. What is it that you want your life to stand for and represent? What are the things you’d like to achieve? The places you’d like to see? The type of people you’d like to spend your time with? The most important thing that you want to get out of your precious time, here on earth.

Life hangs on a very thin thread…

So what is it that you are waiting for? What excuses are you hiding behind?